Returnable bottle carrier



Nov. 19, 1957 H. METZGER 2,813,658

RETURNABLE BOTTLE CARRIER Filed May 10, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. Henry Metz 67; '31 M4 M H/s Attorneys.

Nov. 19, 1957 H. L. METZGER RETURNABLE BOTTLE CARRIER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 10, 1954 r w M 6 T n 3. r .J V 0 4 J (M MM? 2 L A g a. y .5 v 3 64 r H a J n 4 8 F. W W. 3 .0 7 4 v a a a. H m a W; m a

United States Patent RETURNABLE BOTTLE CARRER Henry L. Metzger, Castleton-on-Hudson, N. Y., assignor to Fort Orange Paper Company, Castleton-on-Hudson, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application May 10, 1954, Serial No. 428,524

3 Claims. (Cl. 220-113) This invention relates to bottle carriers. More specifically, it pertains to a bottle carrier made from a single blank of die-cut and scored paper-board material, folded and secured in collapsed position and which, after being opened and used, is of sutficient strength for use in returning bottles therein and for re-use'.

Generally, it is an object of the invention to provide such a carrier which is economical of manufacture, easily opened from its collapsed position, attractive in appearance, gives maximum protection to the bottles, and sufficiently sturdy and durable of construction to permit re-use.

More specifically, it is an object of the invention to provide a single die-cut and scored blank of paper-board material to be folded and secured together in collapsed form for use, when opened, as a returnable bottle carrier, the blank comprising an elongated panel divided into two identical portions along a transverse score line to provide two connected longitudinal partitions and carrying handle sections, each longitudinal partition including a transverse partition connectable to an opposite wall of the carrier, and each carrying handle section having a hand-hole therein; such identical portions each having a panel laterally extending from one end of each longitudinal partition, each such panels being divided along score lines into end wall, side wall, and opposite end wall sections respectively, each latter end wall section being securable to the other end of each longitudinal partition; one side wall having a transverse partition securable to one of the longitudinal partitions; and the other side wall having a transverse partition, a carrying handle section with a hand-hole, integral therewith, which carrying handle section is also integral with an adjacent carrying handle section, a carrying handle section flap, with a hand-hole, attached to the last named carrying handle section to secure the first named carrying handle sections between itself and the last named carrying handle section, and a bottom wall also securable to the other side wall.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises an article of manufacture possessing the features, properties, and the relation of elements which will be exemplified in the article hereinafter described and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a blank embodied by the invention with applications of glue thereon;

Fig. 2 shows the blank of Fig. l folded upon itself and secured, with a further application of glue thereon;

Fig. 3 shows the folded-over blank of Fig. 2 again folded and secured in such position;

Fig. 4 shows the folded-over blank of Fig. 3 finally ice folded upon itself and secured in collapsed carrier form ready to be opened for use; and

- Fig. 5 shows the collapsed carrier of Fig. 4 opened and ready for use.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, there is indicated generally at 10 an elongated panel divided into two identical portions 11 along a transverse score line 12.

Each identical portion 11 provides two combined longitudinal partitions 13 and carrying handle sections 14. Each longitudinal partition includes a transverse partition 15 cut therefrom as shown by the lines 16, 17 and 18 but still integral therewith along the score line 19. Each transverse partition 15 has a glue flap 20 which is defined by a score line 21 and adapted to be secured to a side wall of the carrier as will more fully appear hereinafter.

Each carrying handle section 14 has a hand-hole flap 22 cut therefrom along lines 23 but integral therewith as defined by the score line 24 providing hand-holes for these carrying sections.

At the free corners of the panel 10 or identical sections 11, are cut-out portions forming hooks 25 for engaging the bottom wall as will more fully appear hereinafter.

Each section 11 has a panel indicated generally at 26 laterally extending from one end of each longitudinal partition 14. These panels are divided along score lines 27, 28, 29 and 30 into an end wall section 31, a side Wall 32 and an end wall section 33. Extending from each end wall section 33 is a glue flap 34 adapting the same to be secured to the other free ends of the longitudinal partition as will more fully appear hereinafter. The side walls 32 each have a transverse partition 35 cut therefrom along the line 36, being integral therewith along score line 37. Each transverse partition 35 also has a glue flap 38 defined by the score line 39 so that the same can be secured to the transverse partitions 13 as will more fully appear hereinafter.

Insofar as described above, the panels 26 are substantially identical but, as will be seen from Fig. 1, the lower of these panels includes additional portions not carried by the upper panel 26. That is to say, the lower panel 35 of the side wall 32 has integrally connected to its glue flap section 38 a carrying handle section 40, with a hand-hole 41, and this section is also integral with the adjacent carrying handle section along the score line 42. Also, carried by the handle carrying section 40 is a carrying handle section flap 43, having a hand-hole 44, and this fiap is defined where it is cut from the panel 26 as at 45, 36 and 46, and the score line 47.

Integrally attached to the lower side wall section 32 is a carrier bottom wall indicated generally at 48 and is defined by the score lines 49 and 50. This bottom wall 48 has a transverse score line 51 so that the same can be folded into bottom wall sections 52 and 53. .Also, ex tending from the section 53, along the score line 50, is a glue flap 54 to be secured to the other side wall 32 as will more fully appear hereinafter.

After the blank of Fig. 1 has been die-cut and scored as above described, it is run through a line gluing machine where glue is applied to the glue flaps 20, 34, 38, 54 and the handle carrying section 40 and handle carrying section flap 43, all as indicated by the stippling in the drawing. Additional glue may be applied as indicated at 55 on each side wall 32 for the glue flaps 20, if desired.

The blank of Fig. 1 is then folded over upon'itself along the score lines 27 and 42 so that the handle carrying sections 14 will be secured to the handle carrying section 40 and handle carrying section flap 43. The end sections 33 are then folded along the score lines 29 so that the glue fiap 34 will be adhered to the longitudinal partitions 13all as more fully appear-sin Fig. 2,

Glue is then applied to the reverse side of the panel section 11 as shown by the stippling, and also to the panel section 54 if the same has not previously received an application of glue, and the blank, thus far folded, is again folded along the overlying score lines 12 and 47 to the position shown in Fig. 3. In. Fig. 3 the handle carrying section flap 43 is shown unsecured to the back of the handle carrying section 14 for purposes of illustration, but it is to be understood that it will be secured thereto.

The folded blank, thus far folded, is once again folded as shown in Fig. 4 where the handle carrying section flap 43 is now shown properly positioned, and the bottom wall 48 is folded along the score line 51 so that the glue flap 54 is attached to the opposite side wall 32 completing the folding and securing of the blank to provide a collapsed bottle carrier. A plurality of these collapsed carriers can conveniently be packed in a confined space and shipped to the user.

When ready for use, the collapsed carrier is squared or opened for use as shown in Fig. 5, and the hooks 25 readily can be made to engage the bottom wall 48 of the carrier to lend additional support thereto. The hand-hole flaps 22 are pushed outwardly and upwardly exposing the hand-holes in the handle carrying sections which is now composed of two inner carrying sections 14 and two outer carrying sections 40 and 43 secured together in combined form to provide a four-ply handle carrying section, and the two hand-hole flaps 22 provide an additional thickened grip, whereby a rigid handle carrying section of considerable strength is provided.

After the carrier has been filled with bottles, and performed its function, the bottles can be returned and subsequently removed if desired, and the carrier returned to its collapsed form by disengaging the hooks 25 from the bottom wall 48.

It will thus be seen that the objects hereinbefore set forth may readily and efliciently be attained, and since certain changes may be made in the above article and different embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which,;as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A single die-cut and scored blank of paper-board material to be folded and secured together in collapsed form :for use, when opened, as areturnable bottle carrier, which comprises an elongated panel divided into two portions along a transverse score line to provide two connected longitudinal partitions and carrying ,handle sections, each longitudinalpartition including a transverse partition cut from within the confines thereof, to provide openings therein, and hingedly connectable to an opposite side .wall of the carrier, and each said carrying handle section having a hand-hole therein adjacent said openings; said portions each having spaced panels laterally extending from one end of'each longitudinal partition, each of which panels is divided along score lines into end .wall, side wall, and opposite end wall sections respectively, each latter end wall section being securable to theother end of each longitudinal partition; one sidewall having a transverse partition, .cut from a top edge thereof but hinged thereto, securable to one of said longitudinal partitions; and the other side .wall ;having a transverse partition, cut from ,a toptedge thereof but hinged thereto, and having an extension .with a carryinghandle section, with ahand-hole therein, integral therewith, which .carrying handle section is also integral with an adjacent carrying handle section, a carrying handle section flap, with a hand-hole therein, attached to said last named carrying handle section to secure said first named carrying handle sections between itself and said last named carrying handle section, and a bottom wall integrally hinged to the lower edge of one side wall also securable to said other side wall.

2. A collapsed bottle carrier made from a single diecut, scored, and folded blank of paper-board material secured together, which, when opened, forms a returnable bottle carrier, comprising an elongated panel divided into two portions along a transverse score line to provide .two connected longitudinal partitions and carrying handle sections folded over along said score line and secured together, each carrying handle section having aligned hand-holes, and each longitudinal partition including a transverse partition cut from within the confines thereof, to provide aligned openings therein adjacent said hand-holes and hingedly connected to an opposite side wall of said carrier and folded thereagainst; said portions each having spaced panels connected to each longitudinal partition, each of which panels is divided along score lines into end wall, side wall and opposite end wall sections respectively, each latter end wall section being secured to :the other end of each longitudinal partition; one side wall havinga transverse partition, cut from a top edge thereof but hinged thereto, secured to one .of said longitudinal partitions and, together with its side wall and connected end wall section, being folded against .the same; and the other side wall having a transverse .partition, ,cut from a .top edge thereof but hinged thereto, and having an extension with a carrying handle section, with a hand-hole therein, integral therewith, which carrying handle section is integral with an adjacent carrying handle section, a carrying handle section flap, with a hand-hole therein, attached to said last named carrying handle section; said last named side wall, transverse partition and connected end wall section being folded against said other longitudinal partition, and said first carrying handle sections being folded against each other and secured together between said carrying handle section flap and said last named carrying handle section with all said hand-holes in alignment; and a bottom wall integrally hinged to the lower edge of one side wall folded upon itself and secured to said other side wall.

3. A collapsible, returnable bottle carrier, made from a single blank of paper-board material, die-cut, scored, folded and secured together in squared bottle carrying position, which comprises an elongated panel divided into two partitions along a transverse score line to provide two connected longitudinal partitions and carrying handle sections folded over along said score line and secured together to form a double wall longitudinal partition and two inner carrying handle sections, havingtalignedhandhole sections; said double wall longitudinal pantition having ontwardly directed hinged sections connected to opposite side walls of said carrier to ,providetransverse partitions for one end ,of said carrier, which transverse partitionsarecutifrom ,within theconfines of said longitudinal par iti s, avinsa ie op n ng t e e j ce said hand-hole sections; and connected end and side walls therefor; said side walls having inwardly directed sections secured to said double wall longitudinal partition, between ;said opening and hand-hole sections, vto provide transverse partitions, cut from a top edge thereof .but hinged thereto, spaced from said first transverse partitions, for the other endof said ,carrier; one of said inwardly directed transverse partition sections having an extension with a carryinghandle section integral therewith and ,a carrying handle flap folded over and secured to said inner carrying handle sections to provide outer carrying handle sections, having hand-holes aligned with said first named rhandaholesections; and one of said side walls having a panel integral therewith at its bottom,

5 extending around the bottom of said longitudinal parti- 2,575,654 tion and connected to the opposite side wall to provide a 2,584,658 bottom for said carrier. 2,634,043 2,661,140 References Cited in the file of this patent 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,535,741 Lighter Dec. 26, 1950 6 Casler Nov. 20, 1951 Arneson Feb. 5, 1952 Arneson Apr. 7, 1953 Arneson Dec. 1, 1953 

